Ric Flair Interview With USA Today

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USA Today has an interview up with WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair. Discussing his past visit to North Korea:

In April of 1995, Ted Turner-owned World Championship Wrestling teamed up with New Japan Pro Wrestling to put on the largest pay-per-view in pro wrestling history, held in Rungnado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea. As part of the International Sports and Cultural Festival for Peace, the “Collision in Korea” was a two-day show with a combined attendance of 340,000. North Korean organizers hoped to entice the greatest athletes in the world to come — and though many declined — boxing legend Muhammad Ali and “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair led a small gang of Japanese and American pro wrestlers to the secretive country. Nearly 19 years later, Flair discussed his trip to Pyongyang with For The Win.

FTW: What was it that made you decide you wanted to go to North Korea?

Ric Flair: Well, initially it was going to be Ted Turner, Jimmy Carter, me and Muhammad Ali — in the end it just ended up being myself and Muhammad Ali, and some other guys that worked on the undercard (the Steiner brothers, the Road Warriors, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Scott Norton to name a few). I just thought, number one, it’d be cool to travel with Muhammad Ali. Number two, it was a challenge, and I just thought it would be an experience to remember later in life.

FTW: Did you consult anyone before you went over? Was it an easy decision for you, or something you had to think about for a while?

Flair: I talked to some friends of mine in politics and asked what they thought, and they all thought I was crazy for going. Back then I was just a team player, and they wanted me to go. I think they asked, if I’m not mistaken, George Foreman if he wanted to go. When I’m in the same light, the same consideration as George Foreman… that’s pretty cool and I’ll accept the opportunity.